Self-supporting thermally-protective plant enclosure formed by self-standing container bodies

ABSTRACT

A self-supporting thermally-protective plant enclosure includes a plurality of elongated hollow closure bodies each having a pair of outer and inner transparent walls. Each outer and inner wall are peripherally interconnected by a base, a top and a pair of opposite sides extending upwardly from the base to the top. Each closure body is closed along the opposite sides and base and is open at least through a portion of the top, defining an internal cavity in the closure body capable of receiving and holding a quantity of fluid therein. The closure bodies are positioned in side-by-side relation and are coupled one closure body to the next along the opposite sides thereof so as to form the plant enclosure with an open top and bottom and an annular configuration surrounding a protective plant growth chamber. The plant enclosure also includes features for releasably coupling the closure bodies together along adjacent pairs of opposite sides of closure bodies so as to permit opening and closing of the plant enclosure at the opposite sides of the closure bodies of the plant enclosure. In a first embodiment, the container bodies are a plurality of bags. In a second embodiment, the container bodies are a plurality of hollow arcuate-shaped modules which fit together to form the plant enclosure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a division of Ser. No. 293,693, filed Aug. 19, 1994,now U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,229, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 08/163,948, filed Dec. 8, 1993, abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to enclosure structures forprotecting plants and, more particularly, is concerned with aself-supporting thermally-protective plant enclosure formed by aplurality of self-standing container bodies.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Members of the plant kingdom are sensitive to the environment in whichthey are grown. Members of this group include herbaceous and woody,annual, biennial, and perennial plants whose bulbs, flower parts, fruit,leaves, roots, seeds, stems, or tubers are used as food or forornamental purposes. As used herein, the word "plant" will refer to allplants, even though the effects of adverse environment (e.g., climaticconditions or changes) on different types of plants may vary. Plantsgrown either in home gardens or in commercial fields which are used forfood or ornament are referred to as the "crop".

Crops are produced commercially all over the world. More and more typesof crops are transported over vast distances for sale in high volume indiverse markets. This global competition makes it essential to maximizethe productivity of each individual plant which is grown to produce acrop, and to increase the duration of the growing season despite adverseclimatic conditions.

Efforts to achieve these goals include building large structures, suchas greenhouses, in which a controlled environment is maintained usingartificial heat sources, for example. However, the use of suchgreenhouses is limited by the relatively high capital investmentrequired for construction and provision of the equipment.

Efforts to provide a lower-cost, yet somewhat protective, environmentfor plants without using such greenhouse structures are illustrated bythe devices disclosed in the prior patent art. Representative of suchprior art are patents to Fry (U.K. Pat. No. 1,144,366), Morehead (U.S.Pat. No. 4,821,453) and Wallace et al (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,137,667 and4,267,665).

The Fry patent (U.K. Pat. No. 1,144,366) discloses a device forprotecting a plant growth area which includes a plurality (three)translucent bags fused together and partially filled with water andapparently closed individually at their respective top ends to formthree sides of a rough tetrahedron. The Fry device also includes a rigidinverted cup-shaped support cover which rests on the ground over andspaced by a layer of air from the plant growth area. The support coversupports the bags internally thereof such that the bags provide a layerof water over the small plant growth area. The rigid support alsopermits the passage of light to the small plant growth area.

The Morehead patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,453) discloses a plantprotector device which includes spaced outer and inner truncated-conicalshaped hollow rigid continuous side walls and annular top and bottom endwalls extending between and interconnecting the side walls. A topclosure is provided to cap an opening through the top wall for supplyingfluid into the hollow interior of the device defined between the sidewalls. The plant protector device is open at its top and bottom and isadapted to be placed over a seedling plant.

The first Wallace et al patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,667) discloses adevice for providing a protective covering for a growing plant whichincludes a bag holding water and being gathered and tied together by atie at top and bottom portions to define an invaginated openingextending vertically upwardly from the bottom of the bag. This Wallaceet al device also includes an inverted cup-shaped protective coverinside of and overlaid by the bag and disposed in the invaginatedopening thereof. The cover rests on the ground and extends over theplant.

The second Wallace et al patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,665) discloses athermal protective covering for a plant which includes a double-walledstructure having outer and inner walls being connected together alongvertical lines spaced from one another about the circumference of thestructure to define separate compartments between the walls. The wallsare joined at the horizontally spaced vertical lines by heat sealing,adhesives, etc. The vertical lines are discontinuous to provideinterconnections between the adjacent compartments to permit flowcommunication from one compartment to the next. The walls are closed atthe bottom but open at the top to permit inflation by water added to thecompartments. The top can be closed by a tie. Also, if desired thecompartments can be non-communicating with one another and separatelyfilled with water. Alternatively, the thermally protective cover couldbe constructed from a plurality of separately formed, non-fluidcommunicating sections. These sections could be formed as annular rings,elongated tubes or other configurations that could be fitted together toform a plant enclosure. The elongated tubes could be arrangedside-by-side to enclose a growing area. This multi-tube device of thesecond Wallace patent is substantially similar to a plant coveringdevice being marketed currently under the trademark Wall-O-Water.

The above-described prior art protective cover devices may likelyconstitute a small step in the right direction toward some improvementin functioning as a protective thermal environment for early plantgrowth. However, these prior art devices do embody a number of drawbackssuch that none of the devices appears to provide an effective and viableconfiguration for satisfactory performance of such function. First,these prior art devices are or can only be opened at the top and so areincapable of allowing sufficient sunlight directly onto the plant and ofreleasing the humidity from around the plant to the externalenvironment. The lack of sufficient direct sunlight and the overload ofhumidity produce plant growth lacking in strength. Second, some of thedevices have to be completely removed from over the plant to haveadequate access to the plant to practically apply side-dressedfertilizers. Third, because none of the prior art devices can be openedfrom the sides, applying pesticides to the undersides of leaves wheremost pests are found cannot be accomplished unless the devices areremoved from the plant. Similarly, the application of side-dressed,granular fertilizers cannot be effectively accomplished without removingthe prior art devices. Fourth, the second Wallace et al device which hasthe multiple tubes requires the filling of many small vertical tubes, aprocess that is tedious and time-consuming. Fifth, the prior art deviceswhich are or can be opened only at the top are likely to cause damage toa plant when the device is pulled over the plant since it is likely thatthe plant is protruding through the open top of the device. Sixth, thehigh degree of flexibility of some of these prior art devices makes themunstable and difficult to handle and transport when either empty or fullof water. The second Wallace et al patent cannot be used in aself-supporting configuration unless filled with a liquid.

Consequently, a need still exists for a plant enclosure which will avoidthe drawbacks of the prior art devices and provide an effectiveprotective thermal environment for early plant growth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a self-supporting thermally-protectiveplant enclosure formed of plural self-standing container bodies designedto satisfy the aforementioned need. The structure of the plant enclosureof the present invention protects a plant from adverse environmentalfactors, such as wind and frost, and concurrently supplies the plantwith a beneficial thermal environment which tends to promote growth.

In contrast to the prior art protective cover devices described above,the plant enclosure of the present invention can be fully opened fromthe tops and at least some of the sides thereof and thus will easilyallow full sunlight onto the plant and a reduction in humidity, even asthe plural container modules of the plant enclosure continues to affordwind and cold protection. As a results, a plant grown in the plantenclosure of the present invention will be stronger than one grown inthe aforementioned commercial device. Also, because the plant enclosureof the present invention can be fully opened from the side, pesticidesneeded to maintain plant health can be readily and adequately applied toall surfaces of the plant. Similarly, side-dressed, granular fertilizercan be readily applied around the base of the plant. Additionally, theplant enclosure of the present invention can be filled much faster andeasier because of the few large size container bodies employed and thesemi-rigid and self-standing properties of the plural container bodieswhich make the plant enclosure substantially self-supporting when empty.Further, because of the semi-rigid property of the plural containerbodies, the plant enclosure of the present invention is easier totransport either full or empty and permits such handling to be carriedout mechanically as opposed to manually.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a plant enclosurewhich comprises: (a) a plurality of elongated hollow container bodieseach having a pair of outer and inner transparent walls, the outer andinner walls being spaced apart and peripherally connected by wallsdefining a base, a top and a pair of opposite sides extending upwardlyfrom the base to the top, each of the container bodies being closedalong the opposite sides and the base and open through at least aportion of the top to define an internal cavity in the container bodycapable of receiving and holding a quantity of fluid therein, thecontainer bodies being positioned in side-by-side relation and at leastsome of said container bodies being coupled one body to the next alongthe opposite sides thereof so as to form the plant enclosure with anopen top and bottom and a generally annular configuration surrounding aprotective plant growth chamber; and (b) means for releasably couplingat least a pair of the container bodies of the plurality thereoftogether along a pair of the opposite sides thereof being adjacent toone another so as to permit opening and closing of the plant enclosureat the pair of opposite sides of the pair of bodies of the plantenclosure.

More particularly, in a first embodiment, each container body is in theform of a bag. Each of the outer and inner walls of each of the bags hasa perimeter defining a generally trapezoidal shape and includes thebase, top and pair of opposite sides extending upwardly from the base toan apex defined at the top. Each bag is closed along the opposite sidesand base and open at the top apex to define the internal cavity with agenerally trapezoidal shape capable of receiving and holding thequantity of fluid therein.

Also, outer and inner walls of each bag may be fabricated of respectivematerials differing in rigidity and flexibility properties such that oneof the outer and inner walls is substantially more rigid and lessflexible than the other of the outer and inner walls so as to provideeach of the individual bags as a self-standing body and the plantenclosure as a self-supported structure either with or without thepresence of fluid in the internal cavity of each of the bags thereof.Furthermore, one of the outer and inner walls of each bag has a greaterheight than the other of the outer and inner walls such that an upperportion of the one wall extends beyond the top of the other wall so asto define a flap which can extend inwardly toward a central verticalaxis of the plant enclosure and substantially cover the top of the plantenclosure.

The coupling means attached along the adjacent sides of the pair ofopposite sides of the one pair of bags are strips of hook and loopfastening material. Also, the pair of opposite sides of the pair of bagshave respective sleeves attached therealong and an elongated stake isinsertable through each of the sleeves and into the ground for anchoringand holding the respective bags and thereby the plant enclosure inplace.

In a second embodiment, the container bodies are longitudinal hollowarcuate-shaped modules which fit together to form of a completeenclosure having a truncated-conical configuration. Each of the outerand inner walls of each of the modules has a curved perimeter defining agenerally trapezoidal shape. The outer and inner walls of each moduleare spaced from one another and interconnected about their peripheraledges by a plurality of walls defining the base, top and pair ofopposite sides of the module. Thus, each hollow module is closed aboutits base, top and pair of opposite sides so as to define an internalcavity with a generally trapezoidal shape capable of holding a quantityof fluid therein and is open at a centrally-located hole in the top wallof the module for receiving the quantity of fluid therein. Also, thewalls of each of the modules of the plant enclosure of the secondembodiment are fabricated of respective materials of sufficient rigidityso that the modules provide plural self-standing bodies and the plantenclosure provides a self-supporting structure either with or withoutthe presence of fluid in the internal cavities thereof.

Furthermore, modules of the enclosure of the second embodiment havepivotally hinged or rotatable flaps on the top walls thereof adjacent tothe holes therein which can be pivoted or rotated relative to the moduleto extend inwardly toward a central vertical axis of the plant enclosureand substantially cover the top of the plant enclosure.

The coupling means of the second embodiment of the plant enclosure arepreferably in the form of mating or interfitting curved surfaces definedon the side walls extending along the adjacent pairs of opposite sidesof the modules. As one preferred configuration, the curved surfaces aregenerally S-shaped in cross section. Also, the coupling means can bepatches of hook and loop fastening material attached to portions of theside walls.

Further, selected ones of the container bodies of both embodiments canhave means, such as surface regions painted black, extending along andat least a short distance above the bases of the outer walls thereof andin heat transfer relationship therewith for receiving and absorbingthermal energy from the outside environment. Also, on selected ones ofthe container bodies the thermal energy-absorbing means can extendcoextensive with and in heat transfer relation with the outer walls forreceiving and absorbing the thermal energy transmitted through the plantenclosure.

Finally, the plant enclosure can also include an outer layer of flexiblematerial containing a plurality of sealed hollow pockets containing air.The outer layer of flexible material is attached to the exterior of theouter walls of the container bodies for reducing the rate of conductiveheat transfer to and from the plant enclosure through the bodies.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with thedrawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodimentof the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description, reference will be made to theattached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a self-supportingthermally-protective plant enclosure constructed in accordance with thepresent invention and shown in an opened condition surrounding a plant.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the plant enclosuretaken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the plant enclosure in the openedcondition.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the plant enclosure in a closed condition,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view of the portion of theplant enclosure encompassed by circle of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed view of the portion of the plantenclosure encompassed by circle 6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing how a pair of the plant enclosures ofFIG. 3 can be attached together to form an expanded plant enclosurehaving a larger diameter.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a modified form of oneof the bags of the plant enclosure.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged detailed view of the portion of the plantenclosure bag encompassed by circle 9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of aself-supporting thermally-protective plant enclosure constructed inaccordance with the present invention and shown in a closed condition.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the plant enclosuretaken along line 11--11 of FIG. 10, showing one form of a plurality ofclosures disposed on the top of the plant enclosure.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the plant enclosure in an opened anduncoupled condition.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged top plan view of the plant enclosure in a closedcondition surrounding a plant.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a top edgeportion of one of the container modules of the plant enclosure of FIG.12.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged plan view of another form of a closure disposedon the top of the plant enclosure.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the closure taken along line 16--16 ofFIG. 15.

FIG. 17A is a top plan view of the closure of FIG. 15 being shown in aclosed condition.

FIG. 17B is a top plan view of the closure of FIG. 15 being shown in anopened condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there isillustrated a first embodiment of a self-supporting thermally-protectiveplant enclosure of the present invention, being generally designated 10.The first embodiment of the plant enclosure 10 basically includes aplurality of elongated hollow container bodies in the form of aplurality of bags 12, preferably being at least three in number,positioned in side-by-side self-standing relation and are coupled onebag to the next. The plant enclosure 10 is formed with an overallannular-shaped configuration in which it surrounds a plant P and definesa protected growth chamber 14 for the plant P extending above the groundG around the plant P. The growth chamber 14 is open at opposite bottomand top ends 14A, 14B, as can be readily seen in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, each bag 12 of the plant enclosure 10 hasa pair of outer and inner transparent walls 16, 18. Each wall 16, 18 hasa base 16A, 18A, a top 16B, 18B and a pair of opposite vertical sides16C, 16D and 18C, 18D extending upwardly from the base 16A, 18A to thetop 16B, 18B. Each bag 12 is closed along the opposite vertical sides16C, 16D and 18C, 18D and the base 16A, 18A and is open along the top16B, 18B of the outer and inner walls 16, 18 so as to define an internalcompartment or cavity 20 in the bag 12 between the outer and inner walls16, 18 thereof. The internal cavities 20 of the respective bags 12 areseparate from one another. As seen in FIG. 2, each internal cavity 20 iscapable of receiving and holding its own quantity of fluid F, such asordinary water, therein. The fluid is received through an open top 12Aof the bag 12 defined between the tops 16B, 18B of the outer and innerwalls 16, 18.

More particularly, each of the outer and inner walls 16, 18 of each bag12 has a perimeter defining a generally trapezoidal shape wherein thebase 16A, 18A is wider than the top 16B, 18B and the pair of oppositesides 16C, 16D and 18C, 18D, having substantially the same heights,converge upwardly toward one another to define an apex at the top 16B,18B. The internal cavity 20 of each bag 12 thus has a generallytrapezoidal shape also. Shapes other than trapezoidal are possible andwithin the purview of the present invention.

The outer wall 16 of each bag 12 can be fabricated of a material whichis more rigid and less flexible than the inner wall 18, or vice versa,so as to provide each bag 12 as a self-standing body and the plantenclosure as a self-supported structure either with or without thepresence of fluid in the internal cavities 20 of the bags 12. As anexample, as depicted in FIG. 5, the outer walls 16 of the bags 12 may beformed by a single long sheet of material, whereas the inner walls 18 ofthe bags 12 may be formed by individual shorter sheets of material whichare bonded or fused by vertical joints 22 to the single long sheetproviding the outer walls 16. Again, just the opposite arrangement canbe employed wherein the inner walls 18 are formed by the single longsheet of material and the outer walls 16 are formed by individualshorter sheets bonded thereon. Alternatively, the outer walls 16 and theinner walls 18 of the bags 12 may be made from individual sheets ofmaterial which are bonded by vertical joints 22. The individual bags 12thus formed may be adjacently bonded or fused by additional verticaljoints located between the joints 22. The outer and inner walls 16, 18are preferably fabricated from a suitable light transparent plasticmaterial.

As best seen in FIG. 2, when each bag 12 is filled with fluid, the lessrigid and more flexible one of the inner or outer wall 18, 16 deforms orsags to define a closed bottom 12B on the bag 12, as seen in FIGS. 1 and2, which rests upon the ground G. The bags 12 together thus provide theplant enclosure 10 with the annular configuration and opposing openbottom and top 10A, 10B which respectively define the opposite openbottom and top ends 14A, 14B of the protective growth chamber 14, withthe open bottom end 14A being substantially larger in diameter than theopen top end 14B.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, it is seen that the outer wall 16 of each bag12 has a greater height than the inner wall 18 thereof such that anupper portion of outer wall 16 extends beyond the top 18B of the innerwall 18 so as to define a top flap 24. The top flap 24 of each bag 12extends inwardly toward a central vertical axis V of the plant enclosure10 and together the top flaps 24 will substantially cover the open top10B of the plant enclosure 10, in a manner best shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 6, the plant enclosure 10 of the firstembodiment further includes means 26 for releasably coupling at least apair of the bags 12 and permanently coupling other of the bags 12together along adjacent pairs of opposite sides thereof so as to permitopening and closing of the plant enclosure 10 at the side thereof aswell as being open at the top 10B. As examples, the coupling means 26are strips 26A, 26B of hook and loop fastening material attached alongthe adjacent sides of the pair of bags 12. Releasable coupling meanshaving alternative configurations and constructions can also beutilized. The plant enclosure 10 further preferably includes a hollowtube or sleeve 28 attached along each of the adjacent sides of the pairof bags 12 and an elongated stake 30 insertable through each of thesleeves 28 and into the ground G, as seen best in FIG. 1, for anchoringand holding the respective bags 12 and thereby the plant enclosure 10 inplace against the force of wind gusts. Also, as seen in FIG. 7, one ormore the bags 12 can be attached together to form an expanded plantenclosure 32 having larger diameter sizes to accommodate plants ofdiffering sizes.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 8, to improve utilization of thermal energyselected ones of bags 12 can have means, such as surface regions 34painted black or with black sheets attached, extending along and atleast a short distance above the bases 16A of the outer walls 16 thereofand in heat transfer relationship therewith for receiving and absorbingthermal energy from the outside environment. Also, on selected ones ofthe bags 12 the thermal energy-absorbing means can be coextensive withand in heat transfer relation with the outer walls 16 for receiving andabsorbing the thermal energy being transmitted through the plantenclosure 10. The heat absorbing blackened regions 34 cause convectioncurrents to be set up in the internal cavities 20 to promote fastermelting of any ice which has formed in the water overnight, the goalbeing to melt all ice each day. Also, the full-height heat absorbingblackened regions 34 collect thermal energy from sun rays which havealready passed through one transparent side of the plant enclosure 10.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the plant enclosure 10 can also include anouter layer 36 of flexible material having a plurality of sealed hollowpockets 38 containing air. The outer layer 36 of flexible material, alsocommercially known as "bubble wrap" is attached to the exterior of theouter walls 16 of the bags 12 for reducing the rate of conductive heattransfer through the bags 12 to and from the plant enclosure 10.Preferably, the outer bubble layer 36 is applied to the full-height ofthe outer walls 16.

Referring to FIGS. 10-13, there is illustrated a second embodiment ofthe self-supporting thermally-protective plant enclosure of the presentinvention, being generally designated 40. The second embodiment of theplant enclosure 40 basically includes a plurality of elongated hollowcontainer bodies in the form of longitudinal hollow arcuate-shapedmodules 42. The modules 42 can be made in other shapes. The plurality ofhollow modules 42, preferably being at least three in number, arepositioned in side-by-side self-standing relation and fit together toform of a complete enclosure having a truncated-conical configuration.Thus, as can be readily seen in FIG. 11, the plant enclosure 40 isformed with an overall annular-shaped configuration in which itsurrounds a plant P and defines a protected growth chamber 44 for theplant P extending above the ground G around the plant P. The growthchamber 44 is open at opposite bottom and top ends 44A, 44B.

Referring still to FIGS. 10-13, each hollow container module of theplant enclosure 40 has a pair of outer and inner transparent walls 46,48 spaced from one another and interconnected about their peripheraledges by a plurality of walls defining a base 50, top 52 and a pair ofopposite vertical sides 54, 56 of each hollow module 42. Each of theouter and inner walls 46, 48 of the modules 42 has a curved perimeterdefining a generally trapezoidal shape. Each hollow container module 42is closed about its base 50, top 52 and pair of opposite vertical sides54, 56 so as to define an internal compartment or cavity 58. Theinternal cavities 58 of the respective modules 42 are separate from oneanother. As seen in FIG. 11, each internal cavity 58 is capable ofreceiving and holding its own quantity of fluid F, such as ordinarywater, therein. The fluid is received through a centrally-located hole60 defined in the top 52 of the respective module 42.

Also, the walls of each of the modules 42 of the plant enclosure 40 arefabricated of respective materials of sufficient rigidity so that themodules 42 provide plural self-standing bodies and the plant enclosure40 provides a self-supporting structure either with or without thepresence of fluid in the internal cavities 58 thereof.

Furthermore, in one form seen in FIGS. 11-13, the hollow containermodules 42 of the plant enclosure 40 have arcuate-shaped flaps 62hingedly attached on the top walls 52 thereof adjacent to the holes 60therein which can be pivoted relative to the module 42 to extendinwardly toward a central vertical axis V of the plant enclosure 40 andsubstantially cover the open top thereof. In another form seen in FIGS.15, 16, 17A and 17B, each of the flaps 62 has an aperture 64 definedtherethrough and an annular-shaped snap fit connection 66 integrallyformed on an underside of the flap about the aperture 64 which can beforced into the top hole 60 in the top wall 52 of each of the modules42. In such manner the flap 62 is mounted to the module 42 so as to beable to undergo rotational movement between closed and opened conditionsas seen respectively in FIGS. 17A and 17B.

Referring again to FIGS. 10-13, the plant enclosure 40 of the secondembodiment further includes means 68 for releasably coupling the hollowcontainer modules 42 to one another. The coupling means 68 preferablytake the form of mating or interfitting curved surfaces 70, 72 definedon the side walls 54, 56 that extending along the adjacent pairs ofopposite sides of the modules 42. As one preferred configuration, thecurved surfaces 70, 72 are generally S-shaped in cross section. Also, asseen in FIG. 14, the coupling means 68 can also include patches 74 ofhook and loop fastening material attached to upper portions of the sidewalls 54, 56 to assist in keeping the modules 42 interfitted togetherunder windy conditions. Further, to improve utilization of thermalenergy, selected ones of modules 42 of the second embodiment of theplant enclosure 40 can be painted black or provided with black sheetsattached thereto the same as in the case of the bags 12 of the firstembodiment. Also, similar to the case of the first embodiment, a layerof flexible "bubble wrap" material can be attached to the exterior ofthe outer walls 46 of the modules 42 for reducing the rate of conductiveheat transfer through the modules 42 to and from the plant enclosure 40.

In conclusion, the self-supporting thermally-protective plant enclosures10, 40 of the present invention by having the above-describedconstruction thereby satisfies the need for an effective protectivecover device in which: (1) the thermal efficiency is substantiallyincreased such that the plant growing season can be started or extendedduring cooler periods when it would not otherwise be possible to beginor extend growth without the plant enclosure 10, 40; (2) the internalenvironment of the protected growth chamber is easily accessable bothfrom the side and top of the plant enclosure 10, 40 during the growingseason without removing the plant enclosure 10, 40 entirely from theplant P; (3) the structure of the plant enclosure 10, 40 permits settingup large numbers for commercial plant growing operations or otherwiseless time-consuming than currently available devices, (4) the structureof the plant enclosure 10, 40 makes it easier to remove the plantenclosure 10, 40 from the plant P when its protective features are nolonger needed without causing any damage to the plant P; (5) thestructure of the plant enclosure 10, 40 permits the device to be setupto allow exposure of the plant P to direct, unfiltered sunlight whilestill protecting the plant P from adverse affects of the environment,such as wind; and (6) the structure of the second embodiment of theplant enclosure 40 allows each module 42 to be used independently forprotection of plants from adverse environmental conditions, such aswind.

It is thought that the present invention and its advantages will beunderstood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent thatvarious changes may be made thereto without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its materialadvantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely preferred orexemplary embodiment thereof.

We claim:
 1. A protective plant enclosure, comprising:(a) a plurality ofelongated hollow container bodies each having an outer and an innertransparent wall, said outer and inner walls being spaced apart andperipherally interconnected by a plurality of walls defining a base, atop and a pair of opposite sides extending upwardly from said base tosaid top, each of said container bodies being closed along said oppositesides and said base and open through at least a portion of said top todefine an internal cavity in said container body capable of receivingand holding a quantity of fluid therein, said container bodies beingpositioned in side-by-side relation and at least some of said containerbodies being coupled one body to the next along said opposite sidesthereof so as to form said plant enclosure with an open top and bottomand a generally annular configuration surrounding a protective plantgrowth chamber; and (b) selected ones of said container bodies of saidplurality thereof having means extending along and at least a shortdistance above said bases of the outer walls thereof and in heattransfer relationship therewith for receiving and absorbing thermalenergy from the outside environment.
 2. The enclosure of claim 1 whereinsaid thermal energy absorbing means extends coextensive with and in heattransfer relation with said outer walls of selected ones of saidcontainer bodies for receiving thermal energy transmitted through saidplant enclosure.
 3. The enclosure of claim 1 further comprising:meansfor releasably coupling at least a pair of said container bodies of saidplurality thereof together along adjacent pairs of said opposite sidesthereof so as to permit opening and closing of said plant enclosure atsaid pairs of opposite sides of said container bodies of said plantenclosure.
 4. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said plurality ofcontainer bodies are at least three in number.
 5. The enclosure of claim1 wherein said container bodies are a plurality of bags.
 6. Theenclosure of claim 5 wherein each of said bags has a trapezoidalconfiguration.
 7. The enclosure of claim 1 wherein said container bodiesare longitudinal hollow arcuate-shaped modules which fit together toform an annular enclosure.
 8. The enclosure of claim 7 wherein each ofsaid modules has a curved perimeter defining a generally trapezoidalshape which provides said enclosure with a truncated frustoconicalconfiguration.
 9. A protective plant enclosure, comprising:(a) aplurality of elongated hollow container bodies each having an outer andan inner transparent wall, said outer and inner walls being spaced apartand peripherally interconnected by a plurality of walls defining a base,a top and a pair of opposite sides extending upwardly from said base tosaid top, each of said container bodies being closed along said oppositesides and said base and open through at least a portion of said top todefine an internal cavity in said container body capable of receivingand holding a quantity of fluid therein, said container bodies beingpositioned in side-by-side relation and at least some of said containerbodies being coupled one body to the next along said opposite sidesthereof so as to form said plant enclosure with an open top and bottomand a generally annular configuration surrounding a protective plantgrowth chamber; and (b) an outer layer of flexible material containing aplurality of sealed hollow pockets containing a gas therein, said outerlayer being attached to the exterior of said outer walls of selectedones of said container bodies for reducing the rate of conductive heattransfer to and from said plant enclosure through said container bodies.10. The enclosure of claim 9 further comprising:means for releasablycoupling at least a pair of said container bodies of said pluralitythereof together along adjacent pairs of said opposite sides thereof soas to permit opening and closing of said plant enclosure at said pairsof opposite sides of said container bodies of said plant enclosure. 11.The enclosure of claim 9 wherein said container bodies are a pluralityof bags.
 12. The enclosure of claim 11 wherein each of said bags has atrapezoidal configuration.
 13. The enclosure of claim 9 wherein saidcontainer bodies are longitudinal hollow arcuate-shaped modules whichfit together to form an annular enclosure.
 14. The enclosure of claim 13wherein each of said modules has a curved perimeter defining a generallytrapezoidal shape which provides said enclosure with a truncatedfrustoconical configuration.
 15. The enclosure of claim 9 wherein saidplurality of bags are at least three in number.